Warriors trade, Jonathan Kuminga trade, Jimmy Butler, DeMar DeRozan
Getty
Jimmy Butler III #10 of the Golden State Warriors is guarded by Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Miami Heat during the second half at Chase Center on January 19, 2026 in San Francisco, California.
The Golden State Warriors’ plans at the NBA trade deadline have shifted dramatically in the wake of Jimmy Butler’s season-ending ACL injury, and one surprising possibility is now back on the table: a reunion with Andrew Wiggins.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Golden State is expected to explore trade scenarios that would bring Wiggins back to the Bay Area — using Jonathan Kuminga as the central trade piece.
“League sources tell The Stein Line that one avenue which will certainly be explored is the prospect of a Kuminga-for-Andrew Wiggins swap with Miami that potentially brings Wiggins back to the Bay Area after he was shipped to South Beach last February for Butler,” Stein reported Friday.
The potential reversal underscores how quickly circumstances have changed for a Warriors team suddenly searching for stability on the wing after losing Butler, who had helped anchor both ends of the floor.
Andrew Wiggins’ Championship Pedigree Still Resonates in Golden State
Wiggins’ importance to Golden State’s recent success is impossible to overlook.
During the 2022 championship run, Wiggins emerged as the Warriors’ second-most reliable player behind Stephen Curry, earning an All-Star nod and delivering consistently on the game’s biggest stage.
In 22 playoff games that year, Wiggins averaged 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists, shooting 46.9% from the field. His defining moment came in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, when he poured in 26 points and 13 rebounds to give Golden State a pivotal 3-2 series lead over the Boston Celtics.
That postseason cemented Wiggins’ reputation as a two-way wing capable of defending elite scorers, rebounding at a high level, and thriving in Steve Kerr’s system — qualities the Warriors now lack following Butler’s injury.
Steve Kerr’s Comments Hint at Lasting Connection
Ironically, Kerr reflected on Wiggins just hours before Butler suffered the injury that has reshaped Golden State’s deadline outlook.
When the Warriors hosted the Miami Heat earlier this week, Kerr spoke warmly about his former forward.
“Wiggs is just such a great human being and beloved in our locker room,” Kerr said. “Had so much success here and helped us turn things around from that two-year stretch when we didn’t make the playoffs. He was just a joy to coach every single day.”
Kerr acknowledged the emotional weight of seeing former players move on.
“It’s just crazy, this league, how this business operates,” Kerr added. “You go through a lot together, both on and off the court, and then you make a trade. You still have a relationship, but you don’t see each other. It’s different.”
Those comments now read as more than nostalgia, as Golden State evaluates whether familiarity and trust could outweigh the uncertainty surrounding Kuminga.
Kuminga’s Trade Demand Complicates Warriors’ Options
While Wiggins represents continuity, Kuminga remains the Warriors’ most volatile trade asset.
Stein noted that Golden State is prepared to hold Kuminga through the deadline if the market fails to produce acceptable value — even amid mounting tension.
“The prospect of keeping Kuminga beyond the trade deadline in the hopes that playing him for the rest of the season rebuilds some of his lost value… is indeed on the Warriors’ board,” Stein wrote, adding that picking up Kuminga’s $24.3 million team option for next season is being considered as a setup for a larger offseason deal.
That internal patience contrasts sharply with Kuminga’s own stance.
According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the 23-year-old forward remains determined to be moved before the Feb. 5 deadline.
“Sources have told me that Kuminga has no desire to remain with the Golden State Warriors,” Haynes said Thursday on NBA on Prime. “He is very much hoping that he will be dealt by the deadline.”
Haynes described a fractured relationship between Kuminga and Kerr.
“I’m told that his relationship with Steve Kerr is fractured beyond repair,” Haynes said. “He’s felt that he hasn’t had any organizational support throughout this process.”
Warriors Weigh Familiarity vs. Future Flexibility
The contrast between Kuminga’s uncertainty and Wiggins’ established rapport with Kerr is stark.
Wiggins thrived under Kerr’s system, earned the trust of the coaching staff, and delivered in high-leverage moments. Kuminga, by contrast, has struggled to secure consistent minutes and confidence amid a tense standoff with the organization.
With Butler sidelined and championship hopes suddenly more fragile, the Warriors face a defining decision: bet on upside and long-term value with Kuminga, or pursue a familiar, proven fit in Wiggins, who could stabilize the roster immediately.
As the trade deadline approaches, Golden State’s willingness to revisit its past may determine how competitive its present — and future — can be.